Arthur Ian Lavender (born 16 February 1946), is an English stage, film and television actor, best known for his role as Private Pike in the BBC comedy series Dad's Army. Following the death of Clive Dunn in 2012, he is the last surviving cast member to have played a character in the platoon and, with Frank Williams, is one of only two surviving major cast members.

In 1968, aged 22, Lavender was cast as Private Pike, the youngest member and 'stupid boy' of the platoon in the BBC sitcom Dad's Army. This made him a household name and gave him the great advantage of working alongside a number of experienced actors during his formative years, helping him to hone his acting skills. He appeared in the entire run of the series, and in the spinoff film released in 1971. He appeared in 1974 in one episode of Man About The House (While The Cat's Away) as Mark.

In 1983, he revived the role of Private Pike in the BBC Radio sitcom It Sticks Out Half a Mile. The sitcom was a radio sequel to Dad's Army, but ran for only one series. Lavender has continued to be associated with Dad's Army, and still takes part in occasional fan conventions and cast reunions. He made a variety of appearances during 2008 in connection with the 40th anniversary of the series. These included a reunion with surviving cast members in July, 2008,[2] and an appearance on BBC1's Jonathan Ross Salutes Dad's Army in August.

Lavender also recorded a special introduction for the 'lost' colour episode of Dad's Army entitled "Room at the Bottom" which was broadcast on 13 December 2008.[3] In 2014 Lavender appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in a show with Steven Mcnicoll entitled Don't tell him, Pike!, where Lavender talked about his time on Dad's Army and the subsequent effect it had on his career.

Lavender then appeared in several other TV comedy shows during the 1980s, including two episodes of Yes Minister, as Dr Richard Cartwright, and a lead role in the short-lived The Hello Goodbye Man (1984), as the inept salesman Denis Ailing. He also appeared on ITV's television game showCluedo (1990), based on the board game. During the 1990s Lavender continued to appear occasionally in television comedy roles including a bit-part as a burglar alarm salesman in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances. He made an appearance in Goodnight Sweetheart as two different parallel universe versions of the time-travelling lead character's son Michael. He also provided the lead voice of BBC children's animation PC Pinkerton in 1988.

Lavender was first married to actress Sue Kerchiss. He married his second wife, the American Miki Hardy, three years his senior, six days after his bladder cancer was diagnosed in 1993. Lavender said "We had been living together for 16 years and it was something I should have done a long time before, these things change you, they help you to see what is important in life."[13] The bladder tumour was operated on successfully, and though Lavender has regular check-ups, doctors are confident the cancer will not return. Lavender also survived a heart attack in the summer of 2004.[14]

Lavender grew up supporting Birmingham city,] When filming began on Dad's Army he was allowed to choose Pike's scarf from an array in the BBC wardrobe. He chose a claret and blue scarf to remind him of his home city. He has since stated he no longer likes football but is a big cricket fan.On 22 June 2015, Lavender was awarded a star on the Birmingham Walk of Stars.[15]